Flow control valve



Oct.'I 27, 1953 A. C. ANDERSON 2,656,846

, FLOW CONTROL VALVE:

Filed Jan. 15, 1953 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 FLOW CONTROL VALVE Arthur C. Anderson,

Wildwood Crest, N. J., assignor to A. C. Anderson,

Inc., Wildwood, N. J.,

a corporation of New Jersey Application January 15, 1953, Serial No. 331,348

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in ilow control valves of the type designed to maintain a ow of pressure fluid constant as to volume between a supply source, such as a positive displacement pump, and a hydraulic motor or other fluid-pressure actuated lmechanism or app-aratus.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a valve of the stated type readily adjustable to aiford the different functional and structural characteristics that may be required in the application of the valve to different environments and purposes.

Toward this primary endJ the invention contemplates the provision of a valve in which the movable valve element is designed for installation in selectively different positions in each of which it cooperates with the other structure of the valve to aiord desired functional characteristics.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view yof a valve made in accordance with the invention, said section being taken in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the movable valve element;

Figure 2 is a sectional perspective view of the valve element removed from the case;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of a threaded plug constituting an element of the device, and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the valve element in the reverse or alternative position of operation.

With reference particularly to Figure 1, the valve therein illustrated comprises a casing I having three ports designated 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The port 2 connects with a chamber 5 in the casing, and this chamber also connects through an adjustable orifice 6 and passage 1 with the port 3. A plug valve 8 threaded into the wall of the case in operative association with the orifice 6 provides a means for regulating the effective size of this orifice, and in the present instance the valve element 8 is provided at the outside of the casing with a lock nut 9 and with a. removable cover element I.

'Ihe passage 'I also communicates with a chamber I2, and that chamber is extended into the interior of a hollow tting I3 which is threaded into the wall of the casing I. It will be noted that the chambers and I2 are aligned one with the other.

Intermediate the chambers 5 and I2 is a chamber I4 and this chamber communicates with a port 4. The walls which separate the chamber I4 from the chambers 5 and I2 are provided with cylindrical bores designated I5 and I6 respectively which receive a cylindrical valve element I'I, one end of this valve element projecting into the chamber 5, and the other into the chamber I2.

'Ihe detailed form of the valve element II is best shown in Figure 2. It comprises a cylindrical body portion which terminates at each end in a cylindrical extension, I9 and 2| respectively, of reduced outside diameter. The body portion I8 and the extensions I9 and 2| are perforated, as indicated at 23 and 24, and the internal passage or bore 22 of the body portion I8 of the valve member is provided at each end with internally tapered threads, 25 and 26 respectively.

' At points adjoining the inner end of the thread I8 of the valve a circumferential series Except for the location of the valve member is symmetrical with respect both to its major and minor axis.

With reference again to Figure l it will be noted that the valve member fits neatly and slidably within the bores I5 and |6. A spring 28 within the extension of the chamber I2 seats against a washer 29 at the proximate end of the Valve member and exerts pressures tending to retain the said member in the position in which it is shown in the drawing wherein the opposite end of the member seats against the inner face of a plug 3| threaded into the apertures 2'I the hand end of the bore, as viewed in Figure l, is stopped by a threaded plug 32. This plug is shown in Figures 1 and 3. By reason of this plug communication between the ports 2 and 3 depends solely on the restricted orice 6. When the valve is in the position shown in Figure 1Y |3, and that the position of this member 33 axially of the spring may Movement of the valve member Figure 1, against the spring 28 is seated at be regulated by an adjustable screw 34 threaded into the outer end of the tting and locked into position by a lock nut 35. The outer end of this screw is embraced by a screw cap 36. By adjustment of the screw 34 the pressure of the spring 28 against the end of the valve member I1 may be regulated` asrequired.

Let it ibe assumed ithat the port'Z is connected by way of pipe 31 to a source of uid pressure such, for example, as a positive displacement pump; and that the port 3 is connected by way of a pipe 38 with a hydraulic motor constituting the prime mover of a driven mechanism such, for example, as the sickle baire'f fa tractor. 'Ihe port 4 and therefore the chamber 'I`4 maythen be connected by a pipe 39 with a sump or reservoir from which actuating liqiiidis dravfn'by the pump connected With the pipe 31. It isevident that if the pressure of the spring 28 against the valve member I1 is equal to the difference inthe fluid pressures at oppositei'sides idf "the orifice 6 (assuming df *course that lthe effective 'areas of the `valve memberfexposed "to the fluid -lpressures in I'the Vchambers l5 'and |12 'are equal) the valve member Willibe balanced Iin the `position, "for example, in which it `is"shovn in Figuref'l. If now the pressure'in*th'echamber 5 increases by'reason, for example, lof acceleration of the pump connected'toftheport 2,'the resulting increased'pressure in the "chamber 5 'will "upset 'the :balance of pressures "nthe valve 'member and wilforce ythe said uner'riberto the le'ft to"anextentsu`chthat the lapeimres 'f5 come "into communication with the 5chamber T4. The excess pressure V"in 'the chamber l5 Ivvilthenbe relieved to `an 'extent'r'estoring the original balancefandt'heflou/'oi liquid throug'hthe oriceb "andthrough theport 3 to t'hemt'orconnectedto:that'portwill remain substantially constant. If, on Avthe other hand, the back pressure 'at Zthepurt '3 increases by reason of added Aload on 'the motor, Vthe resulting 'pressure rise in "the passage Twill result iin 'a vcorrespondingly :increased `pressure 'rise Lin the "chamber Sfan'd the ilow"o`f"the liquid throughthe orice l* andthroug'ih the p'crt "3 will again remain subst-aritiallyeonstant. `:Assuming that the 'erigin'al balance bf 'pressureskes determined 'by the settingscf ithe valve 'f8 A'andsp'ring pressure :regulatin'gscrew 31`4,places-'fthe valve 'member'll'l in a position-of rest wherein the'ap'ertures` 21 arepartiallyexposed in thef'hamber |"'4,'theh`tlne''valve xvll-'loperteito maintain, Withinlim'its,ibbthcohstarit "fflow and "constant pressure ^at "the port "3 regardless of "fluctuations either Way in the jpre'ssure iat the pot 2. 'in this case ha 'reduction of pressure in thechamber l5 Will tbe accompanied by a movement of the'valve'member to the'rig'fh't, diminishing Jthe lluy-"passing vl'ovv of 'u'i'd "to vthe chamber '|"4 land thereby I effecting 'an ninc'reaseo'f pressure in :fthe `chauriber '5 t`o 4"compensate the original Kpressure loss. Pressure'dropat'the port 3 i vill'befacc'ompanied'by a' movement 'of the' lvalve member ito the `le`ft and resulting decrease fin the pressure inlehamber '55. `Volume fof flow past-orif nce -IB Athereby remains "-unhan'ged. Increase fof pressureia't'fport 3 fwillbe-accompaneii by'a movemen't fof "fthe'walve 'member "it'o the right 'anda resulting icernpensa'ting rincrease in pressure fin the chamber f5. Volume-cf flow again"remains unchanged. v

As previously stated 'the valve `merrrber "f1 Sis symmetrical and lits position may therefore "be reversed lnfthea casing v1I asillustratedinligure e. In this rase Ithe apertures -21 will, in Va knormal spring-controlled position di vthe valve member,

communicate with the chamber I4. These aprtures lie in immediate proximity to, or will be intersected by, the chamber wall which separates the chamber I4 from the chamber l2. Any movement of the valve member to the left therefore will tend to constrict the outer ends of the apertures .and will decrease flow from the chamber F4 to chamber Elprogressively untilthe apertures are entirely cut oli by the casing wall. In this instance the plug 32 is entered into the threads '25 of the valve member instead of in the threads 52B ias yin 'the embodiment of Figure 1. In this `case also, theport 4 is connected to the pressure 4source'andtlfep'cirtfl is closed by means of a suitble lplug'simlarto plug 32, replacing the pipe 31 of the previously described embodiment. As 1*inligur'e l'the-'pcr't 3 is connected to the fluid .pressure operated apparatus or mechanism.

Intliis case the pressure applied at the port 4 and imposed upon the chamber I4 exerts -`pressure on'th'e "valve `member FI "tending to shift it tothe left as viewed'm the-drawing. Suchnovemeiitof "thevalve'memberis resistedby the fluid pressure inthe chamber l2 Y'and by pressure o'f the spring "28. The 'valve is balanced 'vvhenthe pressure spring 2'8 'equals 'the diiierence in A"the pressure atnppo'site sides 'of theor'ficef. It this pressure 'differential is `disturbed by increase vor decrease of 'pressure at the port i3, lfor example, the 'valve 'member \vill"'be'rnoved*to 'an'er'itent'1 adjusting the effective size of "the v'apertures"'21 a's may be required to restore the pressure balance. This devicemay"be used to advantage Whenethe fluid pressure source connectedto port 7:4 is contant; such 'for exampleas an accumulator.

'The invention provides 4a flow 'control vvalve wherein, Jby, simple "end Y'to vend 'inversion' df :the valve member 'T1 rand 'an accompanying transfer of the plug 32 from one end of the valve member to "the Vother, the valve teristically to lmeet *the special requirements .of different applications.

In a fow "control valve, Ja casing ihfavin'g lriirst and second chambersfapassage including airestricted orifice "connecting "saidbhambers, A"and a third chamber intermediate the chambers "r's't named, saidfeasmg'fhaving also Lthree ports connected respectively tc r.said chambers, "a 'valve member `having "its ends ex'po'sed 'respectively y"in said 'first 'and r.second chambers an'd` intersecting the "'-th'ir'd v'chamber "and mounted Jfor "longitudinal sliding movement in the casing, said valve'member having 'a longitudinal b'ore extending Jfrom end *to v"end thereof and an aperture in ".the theredf located relatively `Vclcse x'to `one 'or said ends, -a Vspring lerensing vpressure 'onfthe 'valve member tending 'ito `move the 'member :longitudinally *in "the casing,"irn'earls `limiting 'movement o' area 'of the 'aperture exposed `in""the intermediate reversal a corresponding movement of 'the mem-V can 'be changed charac-- "said `valve member "being 're-- ber will progressively reduce the effective area of References Cited 1n the l'e of this patent the aperture exposed in said intermediate cham- UNITED STATES PATENTS ber, and means for closing the said port which is connected to that one of the rst and second Number Name Date urged by the spring. 2,395,941 Rockwell Mar. 5, 1946 2,404,102 Schultz July 16, 1946 ARTHUR C. ANDERSON. 

